Gillingham’s director of operations Joe Comper on his football journey from Fulham and Crawley to Priestfield

It’s not hard to see why Joe Comper was picked by the Galinsons to be Gillingham’s new director of operations.

The club’s owners have injected new life into the Gills since their takeover at the end of December and their newly appointed head of operations is full of the same kind of energy.

Mr Comper was asked to take on the role and fill the gap left by the departing chief operating officer Paul Fisher, stepping up from his position as commercial manager.

“There is energy here!” he said, looking towards an office buzzing with activity.

“It feels like people are enjoying being here. People are here longer because they are happy being here until 5.30pm instead of 5pm because there is energy.

“I think what Brad and Shannon have done, initially when the football side of things and the first team got that buzz straight away with the new additions, that is now rubbing off across the board. I am definitely feeling it day to day here, there is a buzz around the place, an energy, and an enthusiasm for the Gills. Two years ago I don’t think we really had that.”

It’s been quite an eventful 10 year progression for the new director of operations. His first job in football was at his beloved hometown club Crawley Town, dressing up as club mascot Reggie The Red, while studying sport coaching and development at Brighton University.

He spent a couple of years at Fulham and then onto Crawley, working his way from the community team to the commercial department. He joined the Gills as commercial manager two years ago.

He’s seen the very depths of the Football League, as a fan and as an employee, and feels well placed to step into the new role.

He said: “I haven’t been an armchair fan of a Man Utd or Chelsea, I have stood on the terraces